Semi-passive method and system for monitoring and determining the status of an unattended person

Abstract

A method and system for determining the status and monitoring an unattended individual. A radio beacon device can be associated with one or more individuals (e.g., an unattended person). Behavioral information about the individual(s) can be collected by tracking the location of the individual within a particular area (e.g., home, assisted living facility, etc.) utilizing the radio beacon device. The presence of other persons can then be distinguished from that of the individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information collected about said individual, thereby permitting a determination of the status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area. The behavioral information can include, for example, one or more activity levels associated with the individual.

1 . A method for determining the status an individual, comprising:
 associating a radio beacon device with an individual;   collecting behavioral information about said individual by tracking a location of said individual within a particular area utilizing said radio beacon device; and   distinguishing a presence of other persons from said individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information about said individual, thereby determining a status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said behavioral information comprises a plurality of activity levels associated with said individual. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising placing an array of motion detection sensors within at least one selected location of said particular area, wherein said array of motion detection sensors generates motion sensor data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  utilizing said motion sensor data generated by said array of motion detection sensors and said behavioral information associated with said individual to determine if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree or differ. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that said individual is alone within said particular area. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do not agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that more than one individual is present within said particular area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying a triangulation algorithm for determining a location of said radio beacon device located with said individual. 
     
     
         8 . A system for determining the status an individual, comprising:
 a radio beacon device associated with an individual;   a data-processing apparatus;   a module executed by said data-processing apparatus, said module and said data-processing apparatus being operable in combination with one another to:
 collect behavioral information about said individual by tracking a location of said individual within a particular area utilizing said radio beacon device; and 
 distinguish a presence of other persons from said individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information about said individual, thereby determining a status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said behavioral information comprises a plurality of activity levels associated with said individual. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising an array of motion detection sensors located within at least one selected location of said particular area, wherein said array of motion detection sensors generates motion sensor data. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said module and said data-processing apparatus are operable in combination with one another to utilize said motion sensor data generated by said array of motion detection sensors and said behavioral information associated with said individual to determine if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree or differ. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree with each other, an assumption is generated by said module and said data-processing apparatus operable in combination with one another indicating that said individual is alone within said particular area. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do not agree with each other, an assumption is generated by said module and said data-processing apparatus operable in combination with one another indicating that more than one individual is present within said particular area. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said module and said data-processing apparatus are operable in combination with one another to apply a triangulation algorithm for determining a location of said radio beacon device located with said individual. 
     
     
         15 . A program product for determining the status an individual, comprising:
 instruction media residing in a computer for associating a radio beacon device with an individual;   instruction media residing in a computer for collecting behavioral information about said individual by tracking a location of said individual within a particular area utilizing said radio beacon device; and   instruction media residing in a computer for distinguishing a presence of other persons from said individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information about said individual, thereby determining a status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area.   
     
     
         16 . The program product of  claim 15  wherein said behavioral information comprises a plurality of activity levels associated with said individual. 
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 15  further comprising an array of motion detection sensors located within at least one selected location of said particular area, wherein said array of motion detection sensors generates motion sensor data. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 17  further comprising instruction media residing in a computer for utilizing said motion sensor data generated by said array of motion detection sensors and said behavioral information associated with said individual to determine if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree or differ. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 18  wherein:
 if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that said individual is alone within said particular area; and   if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do not agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that more than one individual is present within said particular area.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising instruction media residing in a computer for applying a triangulation algorithm for determining a location of said radio beacon device located with said individual.